Ward
6.0
High score (8-10)
Ward County anchors around Minot, the fourth largest city in North Dakota and home to Minot Air Force Base — one of the largest Air Force bases in the country. The base is transformative for the social dynamics: military families rotate through constantly, creating a genuinely transient and socially open population that's mixed in race and background in ways that stand out sharply in an otherwise homogeneous state. Minot State University adds a college-town element. The combination of military, university, and regional commerce makes Ward County the most socially dynamic county in North Dakota outside of the Fargo-Grand Forks corridor.
Mid score (6-8) · Your profile
Minot has about 50,000 people — a real city with real amenities, a genuine downtown, and a State Fair that's a big deal regionally. The Air Force Base means a significant percentage of the population is from somewhere else, which normalizes outsiders and creates a more socially open environment. The military culture has its own social rhythms that take some understanding.
Lower score (below 6)
Minot's winters are genuinely legendary for severity — it's nicknamed 'Magic City' but the joke locally is about what winter does to morale. The Air Force base creates social opportunity but also creates a specific subculture that can feel exclusionary if you're not connected to the base in any way. Still the best non-Fargo option in North Dakota.
Frequently Asked Questions
What's the median income in Ward, NorthDakota?
$95k median
What's the typical marriage age for women in Ward, NorthDakota?
Women marry at 30
How common is a college degree in Ward, NorthDakota?
40% men have degree
What's the average male height in Ward, NorthDakota?
178 cm local avg
What's the average BMI for women in Ward, NorthDakota?
Local women avg 30.0